The King's Traitor (Kingfountain #3)(60)
“The child came alive. The child lives in the realm at this moment. He must be eight years old by now. I saw him walk into the sanctuary of Our Lady. All the people had gathered to watch. The boy then reached into the waters of the fountain and drew out a sword.”
There was an audible gasp at Owen’s words, and Severn’s face began to quiver with fury.
“A sword, my king,” Owen continued gravely. “It was the sword of the Maid. It was King Andrew’s sword. It was the sign from the Fountain that he was the Dreadful Deadman, the rightful ruler of Ceredigion. The White King.”
Owen turned and faced those assembled in the hall. He spied Etayne watching him, trying to conceal her smile of approval. “You all know my history. You all know that I was stillborn. But I am not the Dreadful Deadman. I could not see his face in my vision, but I know he is still a child. Like I was when I started having visions. He will save us from destruction.” Owen turned and looked at the king. “My lord, the Fountain whispered to me that it will not stop snowing until the boy is crowned king.” He dropped again to one knee. “That is my vision, Your Majesty. If it is true, then we will soon be invaded by seven kingdoms. What would you have me do to defend our lands?”
“Out,” the king said in a low, snarling voice. Then he rushed to his feet and waved his hand. “Get out! All of you! Only my privy council will stay. Out, I say! Get out!” He was nearly screaming in fury.
There was a rush of bodies toward the door and then suddenly a voice rang out from the hall. “It’s snowing! By the Fountain, it started to snow as he spoke!”
Owen felt a throb of giddiness at the news. The timing was perfect.
Pure chaos filled the hall as people began shoving against each other to be the first to leave. Someone knocked over a table, and food spilled onto the floor in heaps. Owen kept his eyes locked on Severn’s, not wanting to risk exposing himself by staring at anyone else. He’d rarely seen the king so agitated, so apoplectic. He did his best not to smile.
It took some time to clear away the crowds, but the guards drove them out and bolted the door, leaving the king and some of the dukes in the chamber. Lady Kathryn stared worriedly at Severn, her hands reaching for his arm before pulling back.
The door burst open, and Catsby entered. Owen hadn’t seen him leave. He waited on his knee, determined not to rise before he received the king’s command. His legs were throbbing.
“It is snowing, my lord,” Catsby said in a worried voice. “I saw it with my own eyes. The castle bailey is already dusted with white.”
Jack Paulen snorted with amazement. “By my troth,” he grunted.
The king pressed a knuckle against his smooth mouth, his eyes turning balefully on Owen. “You did this in front of the great hall,” he said angrily. “In front of a room full of witnesses! What on earth compelled you to make such a scene?”
Owen remained on bended knee. “I followed the Fountain’s bidding,” he replied meekly.
The king rose from his throne and began to pace. He glanced at Kathryn, his expression turning from pain to triumph. Kathryn looked away. “Wait for me in the anteroom,” he told her, his voice tender. She nodded and silently left through the side door from which the king usually entered.
Severn grimaced once she was gone. “I was going to make an announcement this morning,” he said angrily. He gave Owen a hard look. “Before you spoke, I was going to name you my heir and—”
“Your heir?” Owen said, interrupting him again. “I am not an Argentine, my lord. I cannot be your heir. I will not be your heir. You accused me of treason in the note you sent me.”
Some of the dukes looked at Owen in startled surprise.
Severn waved it off. “A test, lad. It was only a test. I knew you’d come. I knew you were faithful, despite some who would argue otherwise.” He looked over at Catsby before glancing down at Owen with exasperation. “Get up, man. I told you not to kneel before me.”
“What are we going to do, my lord?” Catsby said with worry. “If the prophecy is true, we cannot defeat all the kingdoms if they attacked us at once. Only King Andrew could hope to defend a kingdom against so many enemies.”
“Once word gets out,” Jack Paulen added. “They’ll all seize the opportunity regardless of the prophecy.”
“Not all of them,” Severn said defiantly. “Iago wouldn’t dare. This is absurd. I can’t believe you all trust in such superstitious nonsense. We are men of the world, not given to fancy. Winter has come early, that is all. It happened years ago and nothing came of it, remember?” He turned and shot Owen another angry glance. “You should have seen me privately, lad. You should have resisted the impulse to make such a show of the news.” He swore under his breath. “You were summoned home after Urbick and Dunsdworth escaped. Well, that problem has been solved. They were both found guilty of treason by the Assizes and ushered into the river this very morning. Urbick, mind you. Not Eyric.” He glanced at the door Kathryn had used to make her exit. “His name never started with an E. It was all a trick. A . . . coincidence. There is no sword in the fountain of Our Lady. There is nothing but the rusty coins that the sexton shovels and collects for the royal treasury. You all know this! Lad, I appreciate you coming to me with your vision. It may indeed presage that war is coming. But it does not mean the Dreadful Deadman has returned.”